Date:05/09/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/09/05/stories/2008090557001200.htm

National

Farmer commits suicide

Raktima Bose

SINGUR: “If the Tata people leave Singur, we all will have to die of hunger,” says 75-year-old Kananbala Mondol, a resident of the Joymollah village in the vicinity of the Tata Motors small car factory at Singur. She was asked whether she supported the agitation led by Trinamool Congress leader Mamata Banerjee demanding return of 400 acres to farmers.

The agitation, which entered its 12th day, and the subsequent suspension of work by the Tatas, claimed their first victim on Wednesday — Sushen Santra (60) of Joymollah committed suicide by consuming pesticide. “My father had willingly given away one ‘bigha’ of land to the government for the project. That was all we had and we had expected to get jobs at the factory site,” said Uttam Santra, eldest son of Sushen.

Sushen Santra received Rs. 3 lakh as compensation while two of his sons got job at the Tata’s small car factory on a daily wage of Rs. 109. Uttam claimed that the income from working at the factory was much better than that from tilling the land. “However, my father became very upset since the suspension of work notice was issued.”